I'm going to Moab with my gf in May (Memorial Day weekend) to hike and I'm looking for a good place to camp. Either a really stellar campground you've stayed at or (preferred) a beautiful and secluded place to free/car camp which is not too far from town. I've been to Moab plenty of times but haven't camped there before. Thanks in advance.

ps: I'm looking to avoid the campgrounds in Arches and Canyonlands because they'll be way too crowded on a holiday weekend.

Tory Wells wrote:I'm going to Moab with my gf in May (Memorial Day weekend) to hike and I'm looking for a good place to camp. Either a really stellar campground you've stayed at or (preferred) a beautiful and secluded place to free/car camp which is not too far from town. I've been to Moab plenty of times but haven't camped there before. Thanks in advance.

ps: I'm looking to avoid the campgrounds in Arches and Canyonlands because they'll be way too crowded on a holiday weekend.

There are lots of places to camp outside of Arches and Canyonlands here in Moab but they will ALL be crowded on Memorial Day weekend particularly the ones closer to town and along the River Road (Highway 128) in Castle Valley. If you can get here early you may be able to find a spot along Kane Creek or the Potash Road, but those usually fill up quickly as well. You can also try north of town near Klondike Bluffs area. Don't even bother with the spots in the Sand Flats near the Slickrock Trail as those are the first to go.

Some of the best camping in the area IMHO is off of the La Sal Loop Road, but it is about 20 miles south of town. Also if you don't mind driving a ways south from Moab (15 miles), the camping off of Highway 191 near Hole 'N The Rock (tourist trap) is also quite nice. If you want to be close to town, be prepared to pay a fee at one of the private campgrounds or get to Moab early and claim your spot in one of the canyons.

kaiman

"I want to keep the mountains clean of racism, religion and politics. In the mountains this should play no role."

- Joe Stettner

"Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end."

Basically what Kaiman said. Around Moab, you must camp in designated sites now. Otherwise you have to go all the way to north or west of Dewey Bridge, all the way towards the airport, or places like the La Sal Loop.

I'm not sure if Willow Flats is still open to free range camping, but it was a couple years ago, which would be the closest free range campsites.

Unless you want to drive quite a ways, I'd book a campsite/campground ASAP. Next to Easter, Memorial Day weekend is the most popular time of the year.

Along Sandflats Road, or the campsite cluster near Negro Canyon Trailhead along Hwy128 the Colorado River.

I am unable to walk away from the mountain without climbing it. An unclimbed mountain tugs at my consciousness with the eternal weight of time itself. Until I've pressed my face into it's alpine winds, hugged it's ancient granite walls, and put it's weathered summit beneath my heal I'm unable to resist it's attraction.Knowing nature gives the mountain more time than she gives us adds urgency to the obsession. As has been said before; the mountain doesn't care.

If you want good hiking and don't mind driving 1.5 hours more, you could head down to Cedar Mesa/ Grand gultch area. There are good sites off most the roads on the mesa areas and alot less people. Another option is head to San Rafeal Swell one hour past Moab turn off. Nice slot canyon hikes from mild to technical. Plenty of sites on the west side of the swell. I personally don't mind driving further out to get away from the masses myself. Thought I throw it out there.

“I will tell you these are ammunition, they’re bullets, so the people who have those know they’re going to shoot them, so if you ban them in the future, the number of these high capacity magazines is going to decrease dramatically over time because the bullets will have been shot and there won’t be any more available.” Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado, leading congressional sponsor of a federal ban on high-capacity magazines.

FYI. Kane Creek is now becoming PAY camping. I just camped there last week and the BLM is setting up pay stations for most of all of the campsites in Kane Creek. LAME. Didn't check out the cost but the camping off of Potash Road was 15 bucks!

I liked Deadhorse too, very nice CG and it was quiet even with all the spots filled. Each camp has a shelter and a locker to store your food, and a good sized tent pad. The visitor center had lots of maps, calenders, usual tourist junk, etc. It's a good basecamp for all the northern Moab trails, White Rim.